This summer the U.S. began a major shift in its trade policies. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods. Public hearings were held last week on another $200 billion in proposed tariffs on products from China. At the same time, the U.S. is renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on why the U.S. hiked tariffs on Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent: “The Trump Administration continues to urge China to stop its unfair practices, open its market and engage in true market competition. We have been very clear about the specific changes China should undertake. Regrettably, instead of changing its harmful behavior, China has illegally retaliated against U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses.”

Public opinion:A Pew Research Center survey, conducted July 11-15 among 1,007 adults, finds that attitudes toward the tariffs are deeply polarized.

Before August 2018, U.S. tariffs were among the lowest in the world. These World Trade Organization rankings in 2017 are based on 2016 data. Note: Ranking includes 137 individual countries and territories plus the European Union, which has a common tariff structure for its 28 member states.